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David Spark

Geoff Belknap

Steve Zalewski

Defense in Depth promises clear talk on cybersecurity’s most controversial and confusing debates. Once a week we choose one controversial and popular cybersecurity debate and use the InfoSec community’s insights to lead our discussion.

Defense in Depth

All links and images can be found on CISO Series.
 
Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and Dan Walsh, CISO, Datavant. Joining them is their sponsored guest, Ash Hunt, vp, strategy, EMEA, Cyera.
 
In this episode:
 
 • The access creep challenge
 • Bridging intent and execution
 • Looking for integrity
 • Racing against exponential complexity
 
Huge thanks to our sponsor, Cyera
 
 
 

 
 
 AI is moving fast - can your security keep up? Join the leaders shaping the future of data and AI security at DataSecAI Conference 2025, hosted by Cyera, Nov 12–13 in Dallas. Register now at https://www.cyera.com/?utm_source=cisoseries

Data Governance in the Age of AI

All links and images can be found on CISO Series.
 
Check out this post by David Mundy of Tuskira for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and Edward Contreras, senior evp and CISO, Frost Bank. Joining them is Jason Taule, CISO, Luminis Health.
 
In this episode:
 
 • ROI challenges 
 • Venture capital saturation
 • Risk aversion and organizational politics
 • A GTM transformation
 
Huge thanks to our sponsor, Doppel
 

 
Doppel is the first social engineering defense platform built to dismantle deception at the source. It uses AI and infrastructure correlation to detect, link, and disrupt impersonation campaigns before they spread - protecting brands, executives, and employees while turning every threat into action that strengthens defenses across a shared intelligence network. Learn more at https://www.doppel.com/platform

How Can Security Vendors Better Stand Out?

All links and images can be found on CISO Series.
 
Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by me, David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and Geoff Belknap. Joining us is our sponsored guest, Kara Sprague, CEO, HackerOne.
 
In this episode:
 
 • Shadow AI as a control problem
 • Rethinking identity for autonomous agents
 • When process meets momentum
 • Beyond blocking: channeling AI usage
 
Huge thanks to our sponsor, HackerOne
 

 
 Discover how AI innovators like Adobe, Anthropic, and Snap are using AI to find and fix vulnerabilities across the software development lifecycle. HackerOne, the global leader in offensive security solutions, reveals all in the CISOs’ guide to securing the future of AI. Download it now to see how AI can strengthen your security posture. Learn more at https://www.hackerone.com/

What New Risks Does AI Introduce?

All links and images can be found on CISO Series.
 
Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by me, David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and Edward Contreras, senior evp and CISO, Frost Bank. Joining us is CISO Series reporter and CISO herself, Hadas Cassorla.
 
In this episode:
 
 • Security poverty line excludes SMBs 
 • Skills gap and channel dynamics slow SMB security adoption
 • The startup disadvantage cycle
 • Technology adoption flows from enterprise complexity to market simplification
 
Huge thanks to our sponsor, ThreatLocker
 

 
ThreatLocker® is a global leader in Zero Trust endpoint security, offering cybersecurity controls to protect businesses from zero-day attacks and ransomware. ThreatLocker operates with a default deny approach to reduce the attack surface and mitigate potential cyber vulnerabilities. To learn more and start your free trial, visit ThreatLocker.com.

The Pattern of Early Adoption of Security Tools

All links and images can be found on CISO Series.
 
Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and Geoff Belknap. Joining us is our sponsored guest Mokhtar Bacha, founder and CEO, Formal.
 
In this episode:
 
 • Access management faces transformation 
 • AI agents demand new authentication paradigms
 • AI complexity demands simplified governance approaches
 • Data-centric identity management replaces role-based approaches
 
Huge thanks to our sponsor, Formal
 

 
Formal secures humans, AI agent’s access to MCP servers, infrastructure, and data stores by monitoring and controlling data flows in real time. Using a protocol-aware reverse proxy, Formal enforces least-privilege access to sensitive data and APIs, ensuring AI behavior stays predictable and secure. Visit joinformal.com to learn more or schedule a demo.

How Are You Managing the Flow of AI Data

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Check out this post by Geoff Belknap, co-host of Defense in Depth, for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by me, David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and John Overbaugh, CISO, Alpine Investors. Joining us is our sponsored guest, Pukar Hamal, founder and CEO at SecurityPal.
 
In this episode: 
 
 • When business moves faster than security
 • Turning obstacles into opportunities
 • The art of saying "not like that"
 • Know your regulatory landscape
 
Huge thanks to our sponsor, SecurityPal AI
 
 
 
 SecurityPal is the leader in Customer Assurance, helping companies accelerate security assurance without compromising accuracy. Their AI + human expertise approach, dynamic Trust Center, and modern TPRM solution eliminate manual work and streamline vendor security at scale. To learn more, visit securitypal.ai.

How to Deal with Last Minute Compliance Requirements

All links and images can be found on CISO Series.
 
Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by me, David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and Edward Contreras, senior evp and CISO, Frost Bank. Joining us is Justin Berman, formerly vp of platform engineering and CISO at Thirty Madison Health.
 
In this episode: 
 
 • Maps without transportation
 • The untouchable employee problem
 • Attestation theater
 • The lightbulb moment
 
Huge thanks to our sponsor, SecurityPal
 
 
 
SecurityPal is the leader in Customer Assurance, helping companies accelerate security assurance without compromising accuracy. Their AI + human expertise approach, dynamic Trust Center, and modern TPRM solution eliminate manual work and streamline vendor security at scale. To learn more, visit securitypal.ai.

Do You Have a Functional Policy or Did You Just Write One?

All links and images can be found on CISO Series.
 
Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by me, David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and Steve Zalewski. Joining us is our sponsored guest, Rob Allen, chief product officer, ThreatLocker.
 
In this episode: 
 
 • Legacy infrastructure creates the biggest hurdles
 • More marketing than methodology
 • Implementation complexity makes zero trust a Sisyphean task
 • Don't ignore human factors
 
Huge thanks to our sponsor, ThreatLocker
 
 
 
ThreatLocker® is a global leader in Zero Trust endpoint security, offering cybersecurity controls to protect businesses from zero-day attacks and ransomware. ThreatLocker operates with a default deny approach to reduce the attack surface and mitigate potential cyber vulnerabilities. To learn more and start your free trial, visit Threatlocker.com/CISO

Where are We Struggling with Zero Trust

All links and images can be found on CISO Series.
 
Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by me, David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and Steve Zalewski. Joining them is Terry O'Daniel, former CISO at Amplitude.
 
In this episode: 
 
 • Beyond prioritization: aligning risk with reality
 • From signals to strategy
 • The Case for Maturity Models
 • Security Starts With Culture
 
Huge thanks to our sponsor, SecurityPal
 
 
 
SecurityPal is the leader in Customer Assurance, helping companies accelerate security assurance without compromising accuracy. Their AI + human expertise approach, dynamic Trust Center, and modern TPRM solution eliminate manual work and streamline vendor security at scale. To learn more, visit securitypal.ai.

Cybersecurity Has a Prioritization Problem

All links and images can be found on CISO Series.
 
Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and Steve Zalewski. Joining them is their sponsored guest, Matt Eberhart, CEO, Query.
 
In this episode: 
 
 • Quality over quantity in AI decision-making
 • Process before technology
 • The connectivity challenge
 • The context complexity paradox
 
Huge thanks to our sponsor, Query
 
 
 
Query is a Federated Search and Analytics platform that builds a security data mesh, giving
 security teams real-time context from all connected sources. Analysts move faster and make
 better decisions with AI agents and copilots that handle the grunt work and guide each step.
 Learn more at query.ai

How Can AI Provide Useful Guidance from Fragmented Security Data?

All posts and images can be found on CISO Series.
 
Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week’s episode co-hosted by me, David Spark, the producer of CISO Series, and Geoff Belknap. Joining us is Steve Knight, former CISO, Hyundai Capital America.
 
In this episode:
 
 • Streamlining vendor evaluations 
 • Moving beyond compliance theater
 • The scorecard skeptics
 • Finding the right balance
 
Thanks to our sponsor, Formal
 

 
Formal secures humans, AI agent’s access to MCP servers, infrastructure, and data stores by monitoring and controlling data flows in real time. Using a protocol-aware reverse proxy, Formal enforces least-privilege access to sensitive data and APIs, ensuring AI behavior stays predictable and secure. Visit joinformal.com to learn more or schedule a demo.

What's the Most Efficient Way to Rate Third Party Vendors?

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